Life-saving device.



E. L. SONS.

LIFE SAVING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.9, 19m.

1,224,679 Patented May1,1917.

that STATE PATENT @hh ERNEST L. SONS, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO \VILLIAIVI L. MCCANDLESS AND ONE-FOURTH TOSAMUEL A. BOYD, BOTH OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

LIFE-SAVING DEVICE.

Application filed August 9, 1918.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EnNns'r L. Sons, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Pittsburgh, county of rrllegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful. improvements inLife-Saving Devices, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to a life saving device, and has for its objectto provide a marine vessel, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, with adetachable compartment superstructure for the housing of the passengersand crew of a ship, when the latter is damaged and there is apossibility of its sinking, and the providing of said superstructurewith buoyant elements to prevent it from submerging when detached fromthe ship and floating away.

A further object of the invention is to provide a detachable compartmentbuoyant superstructure for ships for the purpose set forth and having awireless telegraph apparatus permitting of the calling for assistancewhen the superstructure is detached from the ship and floating awaytherefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for the purposeset forth which is comparatively simple in its construction andarrangement which can, be used for passengers or members of the crew ofa ship when it is not detached therefrom, strong, having means toprevent any possibility of submergence, readily connected to anddetached from the deck of a vessel, and inexpensive to manufacture.

.Vith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts ashereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention,but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationscan be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereuntoappended.

In the drawings wherein like referencecharacters denote correspondingparts throughout the several views v Figure 1 is a diametrical viewillustrating a hull of a vessel provided with a superstructure inaccordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the superstructure, inaccordance with this Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1917.

Serial No. 113,868.

invention, and which provides a life saving device.

Fig. 3 is-a cross sectional view of one of the buoyant members.

Referring to the drawings in detail 1. le notes the hull of a vessel andwhich has de tachably connected with the upper deck thereof asuperstructure or housing boat, in accordance with this invention, whichprovides a life saving device for the passen gers and crew of the vesselwhen occasion so requires.

Preferably the superstructure is rectangu lar in crmtonr and consists ofan outer rectangular frame and a series of inner rectangular frames 3,4-, 5, and G which are spaced from each other and from the outer frame2. The frames 3 and at are arranged in parallelism and a likearrangement is had in connection with the frames 5 and 6. T he frames 3and -it are arranged above the frames 5 and (S. Arranged in the spacebetween the tops of the frames 3 and 4-. and the top of the frame 2 is aseries of longitudinally extending rows of buoyant elements 7.Positioned in the space formed between the bottoms of the frames 3, at,and the tops of the frames 5, and 6, is a series of longitudinallyextending rows of buoyant elements 8. Arranged in the space formedbetween the bottoms of the frames 5 and 6 and the bottom of the frame 2is a series of longitudinally extending rows of buoyant elements 9.Arranged in the space formed by the opposing ends of the frames 3, l,

5, and 6 is a series of vertical rows of buoyant elements 10. Positionedbetween the outer ends of the frames 3, 6 and one end of the frame 2 isa series of vertical rows of buoyant elements and arranged between theother end of the frame 2 and the outer ends of the frames l and 5 is aseries of vertical rows of buoyant elements 12.

The buoyant elements of the rows 7, S, 9, extend longitudinally and thebuoyant elements of the rows 10, 11 and 12 extend vertically. Thebuoyant elements of the rows constitute sustaining members.

Only one longitudinal row 7, 8, and 9 and only one vertical row l0, l1and 12 of buoyant elements is illustrated.

Associating with each of the rows 7, 8 and 9 of the buoyant elements isan air supply pipe 13 and associating with each of the rows 11 and 12 isan air supply pipe 14 and the said pipes 14 are coupled with the pipes18. Associating with each of the rows 10 of buoyant elements is avertically disposed air pipe 15 and which communicates at the lowerendthereof with the air supply pipes 13 which are arranged between thebottoms of the frames 5, 6, and the bottom of the frame 2. Communicatingwith one of the pipes 13, and arranged at the bottom of thesuperstructure, is an air ,feed pipe 16 which leads from a compressor17.

Each of the buoyant elements is cylindrical incontour and consists of aninflatable inner tube 18, which is inclosed by a thin metallic cylinder19 for protecting the tube 18. The tube 18 is inset as at 20 to providea pocket 21, through which extends an air supply pipe 13, or 14, .or 15.Leading from the air supply pipe to each sustaining element of the rowsis a check-valve 22 of known construction.

Any suitable means can be employed between the frames to preventshifting of the sustaining members, but the valve connection betweenthem and the air supply pipe is in most instances all that is necessary.

The superstructure is mounted upon the upper deck and detachablyconnected therewith by hinged arms 23, connected with the sides of thesuperstructure as at 24:, and detachably connected at their lower endsby hooks 25.

The superstructure is provided with a wireless telegraph device, asindicated conventionally at 26. The superstructure also has windows 27and entrance doors 28.

When the vessel should become damaged and in danger of sinking thesuperstructure is detached from the deck and as the vessel sinks, willfloat off, or the same can be dislodged from the hull prior to thesinking of the vessel and the sustaining elements will prevent thesuperstructure from submergin g.

What I claim is l. A device for the purpose set forth comprising acompartment superstructure, inflatable sustaining elements interposedbetween the floors and walls of the compartments of saidsuper-structure, protecting cylinders inclosing each of said inflatableelements, and means for inflating said elements.

2. A. device for the purpose set forth comprising a compartmentsuper-structure, inflatable sustaining elements interposed between thefloors and walls of the compartments of said superstructure, protectingcylinders inclosing each of said inflatable elements, and means forinflating said elements, a wireless telegraph apparatus carried by saidsuper-structure.

3. A device for the purpose set forth comprising a compartmentsuper-structure, inflatable sustaining elements interposed between thefloors and walls of the compart ments of said super-structure,protecting cylinders inclosing each of said inflatable elements, andmeans for inflating said elements, and means for detachably connectingsaid super-structure upon the deck of a vessel.

a. A device for the purpose set forth comprising a compartmentsuperstructure, inflatablc sustaining elements interposed between thefloors and walls of the compartments of said super-structure, protectingcylinders inclosing each of said inflatable elements, and means forinflating said elements, a wireless telegraph apparatus carried by thesaid super-structure, and means for detachably connecting saidsuper-structure upon the deck of a vessel.

5. A device for the purpose set forth comprising a compartmentsuper-structure, inflatable sustaining elements interposed between thefloors and walls of the compartments of said super-structure, protectingcylinders inclosing each of said inflated elements, said sustainingelements arranged in longitudinal and vertical rows, and an independentair supply pipe for the elements of each row, an inlet valve connectionbetween each pipe and its associated element, and means for feeding airto said pipes.

6. A device for the purpose set forth comprising a compartmentsuper-structure, inflatable sustaining elements interposed between thefloors and walls of the compartments of said super-structure, protectingcylinders inclosing each of said inflated elements, said sustainingelements arranged in longitudinal and vertical rows, and an independentair supply pipe for the elements of each row, and inlet valve connectionbetween each pipe and its associated element, and means for feeding airto said pipes, and a wireless telegraphic apparatus carried by saidsuper-structure.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

ERNEST L. SONS. Witnesses B. E. JENKINS,

ELLA J. LETzKUs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, I). G.

